Welcome.
You are familiar with the hot spot in DR but not DR yet.
It is a very diverse place and from Bavaro to the extreme North West and South West is perhaps 8 hours by car and also North East( Samana) is maybe 6 hours. I implore you to try and travel around see so much of interest and avoid the 'honey pots' and see the real DR.
Also ignore at times the negativity of this forum and have a positive outlook. The humor and supposed humor can be wicked and very sarcastic even nasty too.
The country has plenty of problems and can drive one insane at times, but if you have vitality and are flexible you will find all that you want here.
I chose this country over Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and Thailand as a potential affordable retirement venue and don't regret it one bit. It offers more for modest folk compared to all other Caribbean Islands if you are 'alive'.
Final point. Don't get into a situation where you live in a bubble. Very easy to do that here because of language.
